Device for rendering stage-figures of miniature house-theaters (puppet-shows) movable.



W. RUTZ.

DEVIOE FOB RENDERING STAGE FIGURES 0F MINATUBE HOUSE THEATERS (PUPPETSHOWS) MOVABLE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 21, 1011.

1,003,807. Patented Sept. 19,1911.

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W. RUTZ. DEVICE I'OB RBNDERING STAGE FIGURES 0F MINATURE HOUSE THEATERS(PUPPET SHOWS) MOVABLE.

APPLICATION mum 1,111.21. 1911.

1,003,807. Patented Sept. 19,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER RUTZ, F ROSENBERG, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR RENDERING STAGE-FIGURES OF MINIATURE HOUSE-THEATERS (PUPPET-SHOWS) MOVABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Application filed January 21, 1911. Serial No. 603,899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VAL'IER Run, a subject of the German Emperor, andresident of Rosenberg, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Devices for Rendering Stage Figures of MiniatureHouse-Theaters (Puppet-Shows) Movable, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a device for rendering stage figures ofminiature house theaters (puppet shows) movable.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows the back View of a stagefigure partly in section. Fig. 2 shows the elevation of the elongatedneck. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the neck portion of the device shownin Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the arm securing device. Fig.4 shows the two small actuating rods. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspectiveviews showing the method employed for actuating the figures.

The new device essentially comprises the two actuating rods 0:, b, thedevice for mov- '1. ing the arm 0 which device is actuated by the rod oras well as the head (Z adapted to move on a ball point.

The actuating rods 0, Z), are constructed in the following manner: Therod a which i is actuated by means of the right hand is composed of twosuperposed round rods hav ing each a diameter of about 4 millimeters.The part 1 of the rod only comprises one round rod having a length ofabout 6 centimeters and carrying a raised part 2. The right leg of thestage figure is slid over the pin 3 and rests with the sole of the footon the raised part 2. The pin 3 the length of which is about 10centimeters forms so to speak the vertical shaft of the right leg andthis in such a manner that this shaft is Well guided in the sole whilehaving ample room to move in the hollow thigh and in the abdomen of thefigure.

The actuating rod 1) which is actuated by means of the left hand has asquare section about 6 millimeters thick. The part 4 of this rod beingon its lower side reduced to half its thickness, so that when it isplaced upon the reduced portion of the actuating rod a, the soles of thefeet of the stage figure will be located in substantially the sameplane. The left leg of the figure in which lead 5 or the like has beencast is slid on the pin 6 of the rod 1) which has a length of about 3centimeters. As readily seen the pin 6 forms so to speak the verticalshaft of the left leg and is everywhere guided in an easy but perfectmanner. Owing to these small actuating rods a and b it is possible tocause the stage figures to perform motions and to wheel around. Asreadily seen when the rod a is moved forward the figure will alwayswheel around to the left and when the same rod is pulled backward, thefigure will always wheel around to the right. These motions are possibleto such an extent that the person faces about.

The arms are secured to the body in the following manner and are movedby the following mechanism: A plate 7 the dimensions of which correspondto the diameter of the upper arm, projects beyond the shoulder of thefigure. This plate is provided at its outer part with a hole 8. Theupper arm of the figure has been provided with two eyelets 9 and 10. Asmall cotter pin is passed through the eyelet 9 of the arm and the hole8 of the plate and is then bent. In this manner the arm is movablysecured. The eyelet 10, of the arm serves to secure a thread 11 whichpasses throu h the opening 12 inside of the body of the gure. Theeyelets 13 secured to the inside of the body by soldering serve to guidethe thread. Now, the latter is provided with a ring 14 through whichpasses the pin 3 of the actuating rod a. This pin 3 has as alreadystated ample room to move in the thigh of the figure. If therefore theactuating rod is tilted laterally, the pin 3 fOllOWllig this motionpulls the ring and with it the arm into the position shown in dottedlines in the drawing. It is quite in the power of the director of thetheater to cause these motions of the arms to take place to a more orless great extent. The palms of the hands of the figure are also piercedwith holes 15 which serve to receive occasional requisites (such asnosegays, sabers, stick or the like). These requisites then performmechanically the same motions as the arm.

The head (Z is constructed and moves in the following manner: In thebody of the stage figure a carrier 16 is soldered in such a manner thatthe point 17 formed of a hardened ball projects from the body throughthe neck hole. The head is provided with a neck extension (Fig. 2)shaped in the inside like a hollow cone into which the carrier projects.The base surface 18 of this hollow cone is provided with a semispherical depression adapted to receive the point 17. The uppermostportion 18 of the recess in the hollow conical neck is, preferably,oblong in cross section, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Thecross section of the carrier 16 is also oblong, but the longer side ofits cross section is greater than the smaller side of the cross sectionof the said recess 18, whereby the head may perform lateral motions withreference to the diagonal of the base surface of the hollow cone, aswell as motions forward and backward but never an entire turn, so thatthe head never can place itself accidentally on the wrong side. The.ring of lead 19 which has been inserted and secured in the extended neckalways holds the head in the vertical position. The motions performed bythe head are arbitrary ones and are partly right, and partly extremelycomical. The operator may however, by skilfully manipulating theactuating rods modify advantageously the movements of the head.

The theaters for children, which may actually be bought, are, asexperience has shown, too monotonous to please the child. The reason ofthis is that the question of the figures has not yet been solved. Thespoken parts have a monotonous and fatiguing effect when the speakerremains invisible and when the figure replacing him does nothing forgiving the spoken word life.

The new device described above has for its object to remedy this in thebest possible and at the same time in not too costly a manner. Thefigures of the stage become lively, the performance gains in directionbecause the spectator recognizes more than before that the spoken wordis in connection with the figure. This is the object of the invention.

Having now fully described my said in vention, what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for rendering stage figures of miniature theaters movablecomprising in combination with the figure to be moved two actuatingrods, a guide pin provided on one end of each of said rods, and a holeprovided in the sole of each foot of the said figure and adapted toreceive the said pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A device for rendering stage figures of miniature theaters movablecomprising in combination with the figure to be moved, arms, eyelets onsaid arms, a shoulder plate secured to the body of said figure so as toproject therefrom, means adapted to secure the said arms to the saidshoulder plate, a thread adapted to connect the two arms together, aplurality of eyelets provided inside the body of said figure and adaptedto guide the said thread, an actuating rod, a guide pin on saidactuating rod, a hole provided in the sole of one of the feet of saidbody of the figure, and adapted to be engaged by the said guide pin ofthe actuating rod and means for operatively connecting the said guidepin with the said thread, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. A device for rendering stage figures of miniature theaters movablecomprising in combination with the figure body a separate head, anelongated neck shaped as a hollow cone and connected with said head, acarrier secured inside the said figure body and provided with a ballpoint at its upper end, means provided in the said head for receivingthe said ball point, and means for pre venting said head from making anentire turn upon said neck, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4:. In a device for rendering stage figures of miniature theatersmovable, the combination with the figure body having a hole in the soleof each foot, of two actuating rods provided with handle portions at oneof their ends and with reduced portions at their other ends, a guide pincarried by the reduced portion of each of said actuating rods adapted toengage the hole in the sole of its corresponding foot of said figure,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

WALTER RUTZ.

Witnesses OSKAR SCHULTZ, Josnr H. ErsTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

